South East England with easy access to either of our offices near Tonbridge or Farnham. The focus of the work will be Kent, Sussex and Surrey but may well extend beyond this to the wider south east and into East Anglia.
Job Summary
Protecting our country from pests and diseases is vital to safeguard the value our trees provide to the environment, economy and our health. As well as commercial timber, forests and trees deliver many non-market public goods such as carbon sequestration, air pollution absorption, biodiversity, recreation, landscape value, noise, flood and heat reduction and a whole range of other benefits. Delivering and enhancing the public goods delivered by healthy trees is a top priority for the Forestry Commission and Defra as demonstrated in the 25 Year Environmental Plan and the Tree Health Resilience Strategy.
Owing to several factors including climate change and growing globalisation in trade and travel, the threats to our trees from pests and diseases have risen dramatically over the past 20 years. Several of our most prominent broadleaf species are threatened, for example ash from ash dieback, oak from Acute Oak Decline and Oak Processionary Moth and four of our major conifer species are impacted by current outbreaks of
Phytophthora
and
Ips typographus
.
This post will complement our existing Tree Health Pilot Woodland Officer and Plant Health Officer from the Forestry Commission's specialist Plant Heath Forestry operational team working across the south and east of England. In particular, proactively engaging and supporting woodland owners impacted by the eight toothed spruce bark beetle
Ips typographus
facilitating the removal of spruce trees impacted by the beetle and restocking the woodland concerned.
*About The Tree Health Pilot:*
A 3 year Tree Health Pilot was launched in August 2021 to test and refine novel land manager-focused incentives. The Pilot was set up to run alongside and inform amendments to the support available through the existing Countryside Stewardship Woodland Tree Health scheme. The priority pilot grants will continue to be available until the amended Countryside Stewardship offer is launched.
Key principles of the pilot were being trailed within targeted locations across the South-East England and North-West & West Midlands Forest Services Areas, primarily aimed at owners and managers of small woodlands, farmers with trees, and managers and owners of tree outside of woodland.
Job Description
Working with the Area Team, Forestry Plant Health and the Tree Health Incentives policy colleagues, the post holder will facilitate and deliver tree health pilot grants to land managers and groups of land managers to help manage tree pest and disease outbreaks and support restocking of trees.
This role is based in South East England with easy access to either of our offices near Tonbridge or Farnham. The focus of the work will be Kent, Sussex and Surrey but may well extend beyond this to the wider South East and into East Anglia.
*Promotion And Engagement:*
The successful candidate will be expected to:
* Lead targeted promotion and engagement of the tree health pilot grants to stakeholders and potential applicants, where alternative support to existing grant schemes is required.
* Encourage landowner collaboration to deliver tree health resilience at a landscape scale.
* Use contacts, data, and evidence to identify pest and disease outbreaks and suitable grant applicants.
* Provide advice and promoting tree pests and disease management as part of wider woodland and tree management.
*Protecting And Improving Trees And Woodland In England:*
* Supporting woodland and tree owners and managers in responding to the challenges of pests and diseases including – Ips typographus, ash dieback, Phytophthora ramorum, Sweet Chestnut Blight and oak processionary moth.
* Supporting woodland and tree owners to increase resilience to climate change and tree pests and diseases through restocking of trees and woodlands after tree heath issues.
* Assessment of tree health grant applications to deliver maximum impact, value for money and long-term outcomes.
* Identification and facilitation of opportunities to work across the supply chain and forestry sector to apply best practice and utilis trees felled for tree health / resilience reasons.
* Ensuring tree health management meets other environmental legislation requirements and advising on these regulations
* Promoting best biosecurity practice to the sector.
*Support Earning From Experience:*
* Contribute to FC and Defra project meetings to capture lessons learned and help shape future incentives packages for land managers.
*Interaction With Other Schemes:*
* Supporting land managers after they have responded to tree pests and diseases, promoting woodland management and further support opportunities.
* Working closely with partner organisations and stakeholders to optimise collective resources to support tree health and longer-term resilience.
* Work closely with other FC teams delivering environmental land management support to land managers to ensure join up of government support to the forestry.
Working with the Area Team, Forestry Plant Health and the Tree Health Incentives policy colleagues, the post holder will facilitate and deliver tree health pilot grants to land managers and groups of land managers to help manage tree pest and disease outbreaks and support restocking of trees.
This role is based in South East England with easy access to either of our offices near Tonbridge or Farnham. The focus of the work will be Kent, Sussex and Surrey but may well extend beyond this to the wider South East and into East Anglia.
*Interaction With Other Schemes:*
* Supporting land managers after they have responded to tree pests and diseases, promoting woodland management and further support opportunities.
* Working closely with partner organisations and stakeholders to optimise collective resources to support tree health and longer-term resilience.
* Work closely with other FC teams delivering environmental land management support to land managers to ensure join up of government support to the forestry.
Person specification
*Essential*
:****
* Good interpersonal and influencing skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and our customers.
* Experience of practical woodland management.
* Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
* Good computer skills with experience of MS Word and Excel, Outlook and Teams, ArcGIS (or similar mapping software).
* Knowledge of field health and safety.
* Driving licence.
*Desirable:*
* Knowledge of a range of UK tree pests and diseases and/or tree-related operational experience and familiar with current legislation.
* Ability to proactively deal with complex and contentious issues relating to people and tree/woodland interests, leading to the delivery of project outcomes and development of work areas as necessary.
* Experience and knowledge of forestry regulations, incentives and plant (tree) health.
* Professional membership (or working towards) of Institute of Chartered Foresters or similar.
* Experience of promoting, designing and establishing new woodland.
* Experience of working in partnership across delivery organisations.
* Experience in facilitating market growth in the forestry sector.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Proven knowledge and experience of lowland forestry/woodland management.
Alongside your salary of £35,380, Forestry Commission contributes £10,249 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
* A range of family friendly benefits.
* An environment with flexible working options.
* Learning and development tailored to your role.
* A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
* A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
* 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years' service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
* Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
* 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment ending 31 March 2026, with possibility but no guarantee of extension or permanency.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following online:
* A tailored CV (curriculum vitae) setting out your qualifications, career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV should be split into 3 parts and provide: Job History, Previous Skills/Experience, Full Qualification Details.
* A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the relevant skills and experience as set out in the Person Specification.
* A statement, of no more than 250 words, providing an example of how you have demonstrated the key behaviour of Communicating and Influencing.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The sift will be conducted using your CV, Personal Statement, and lead behaviour: Communicating and Influencing. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour. This will be the behaviour which is listed first in the job advert. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Those invited to interview will be further assessed on Behaviours and Strengths in addition to Technical Skills and Experience. You may be asked to complete a simple exercise as part of this. You will also be asked to complete a technical exercise at interview.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on
Sunday 19th October 2025.
Applications will be sifted on
Monday 20th October 2025
. This date is subject to change.
Interviews will be held in person at our Area Office at Bucks Horn Oak Office, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LS on
Monday 27th October 2025
. These dates are subject to change.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.
Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Security
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the 'Assistance required' section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : Jonathan Varney
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.